The Supreme Court on Friday fixed the date for hearing of a suo motu case regarding sit-in staged by the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) at Faizabad in 2017.
A two-judge bench comprising Justice Mushir Alam and Justice Qazi Faez Isa will hear the case on November 16.
The apex court has summoned the record of TLP’s registration as a political party from the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). Notices have also been sent to the attorney general, secretaries of interior and defence ministries, Islamabad inspector general of police (IGP) and the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) in this regard.
In November 2017, the TLP workers demanding the resignation of then law minister Zahid Hamid had staged a weeks-long sit-in at the Faizabad interchange that had virtually paralysed the federal capital and led to several people losing their lives. On November 21 of the same month, the apex court had taken notice of the sit-in and directed the defence and interior secretaries to submit a detailed report on the matter.
In the case’s last hearing, the Supreme Court bench had wondered whether a party whose head propagates views against the constitution can be registered as a party under the Political Parties Act by the ECP.
Last week, the TLP again held countrywide protests against the acquittal of Asia Bibi in a blasphemy case, condemning the judges on the bench hearing the Christian woman’s case, the prime minister and the army chief.
Published in Daily Times, November 10th 2018.
